英语小达人 402:Hints for Those That Would Be Rich(2)

 　　Again, He that sells upon credit, asks a price for what he sells equivalent to the principal and interest of his money for the time he is likely to be kept out of it: therefore he that buys upon credit, pays interest for what he buys. And he that pays ready money, might let that money out to use; so that he that possesses any thing he has bought, pays interest the use of it.

　　还有，一个赊帐出售物品的人，对他所售货物要求的价格相当于货物的本钱加上他暂时不能利用的那笔钱的利息。因此，一个赊帐购买的人，要为他所买的货物支付利息。而一个用现金购买的人，如果不买的话，是可以把那笔钱借给别人使用的。所以，一个拥有任何买来的东西的人，都要为使用这东西而支付利息。

　　Consider then when you are tempted¹ to buy any unnecessary household stuff, or any superfluous² thing, whether you will be willing to pay interest, and interest upon interest for it as long as you live; and more if it grows worse by using.

　　当你感到一种引诱，想要买任何并不急需的家用品，或任何不必要的东西的时候，你就要好好考虑一下，你是否愿意为它支付利息，并且终身为它利上加利；如果这东西是会用坏的，那末还要付得更多。

　　Yet, in buying goods, it is best to pay ready money, because, he that sells upon credit, expects to lose 5 percent by bad debts; therefore he charges, on all he sells upon credit, an advance that shall make up that deficiency.

　　然而，在买东西时，最好还是付现金，因为赊帐售物的人，估计由于吃倒帐会损失百分之五，所以把赊售的所有货物都要加码，以弥补这笔损失。

　　Those who pay for what they buy upon credit, pay their share of this advance.

　　那些赊帐购物的人，得支付他们所应分担的这笔加码的价款。

　　He that pays ready money, escapes or may escape that charge.

　　而用现金购物的人，则不需或可能不需支付这笔钱。

　　A penny saved is two pence clear;

　　省下的一便士是不折不扣的两便士；

　　A pin a day is a groat a year.

　　每天节约一丁点儿一年就是一大笔。

1 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

2 superfluous   

adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的

参考例句：

• She fined away superfluous matter in the design. 她删去了这图案中多余的东西。
• That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it.我这样写的时候觉得这个请求似乎是多此一举。